Spurs were flying in the Premier League last season until a north London derby defeat in February saw their 10-point advantage over Arsenal disappear as they slipped to fourth place. With Chelsea winning the Champions League in May, the north Londoners missed out on a place at Europe's top table.

However, despite results such as March 17's loss to Fulham, Villas-Boas is certain that his side is not in the midst of a similar heartbreak.

"The circumstances, players, leaders, training are different. So at this moment it has nothing to do with past experiences," he told reporters. "Obviously it can happen. We have to reflect on it like on the late goals we suffered this season. The more you work on it the more you will get out of it. It has happened before but it doesn't mean it will happen again."

Though conceding that a top-four finish is the club's "ultimate objective", the Portuguese is adamant that the team has shown positives in a transition season for Spurs whatever the result, as proven with their Europa League run.

"Our ultimate objective is Champions League qualification. If we don't achieve it we have to consider what has been achieved this season as steps forward, which are positive for the club and the team going forward bearing in mind the players the team lost," he explained. "But it's not up to me to judge. If you want to move forward you move forward by qualifying for the Champions League."